Impossible to say but they're supposed to. It's not usually the tax that gets you (because you expect that) it's their "customs brokerage fee". Someone sent me something once, can't remember what it was now but I remember I got hit with that fee, plus GST, plus duty and it was quite a lot given the value of the package. I remember because I couldn't figure out what it was on my credit card bill and when I put in the postal code it came up with some obscure place in NB owned by Canada Post.

Some places in the US are GST/HST registered, it's worth seeking them out as you will not have to pay a customs brokerage fee. Won't help with anything from the UK though, although I'm sure someone there must be GST registered.

When M&S were advertising free delivery to Canada I ordered two packs of undies - good price for cotton.

£7.50 each pack, £15.

As it was over $20, there was a customs charge and because there was a customs charge there was a courier fee for collecting the charge.

The courier fee was out of proportion to the tax bit.

Had I ordered separately, it seems there'd have been no additional fee.

The UPS is something that I am worried about. I've heard some nasty stories about them and import fees. Hopefully it won't ship through them.

We got stung by UPS with brokerage fees which were ridiculous. I no longer buy from anywhere outside Canada that says it will use UPS for shipping. I've had no issues - as yet - with anything shipped from the US using regular mail...

With Amazon, so long as you pre pay any taxes and duty, UPS won't charge any additional fees.

I ordered an 8 season blu ray (region free) box set from amazon.co.uk for one of my kids for Christmas. With shipping it was around $90.

Amazon.ca wanted $240 for the 7 season set and didn't have the 8 season one at all.

I was expecting to be stung for brokerage, etc., but nothing, and came via the normal post, not courier.

Then I shall keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

Perhaps TPTB thought it was rubbish and it was unfair to charge extra.

It's not UPS that's the problem it's the shipper. I've used UPS with US shippers who were GST registered and there were no customs brokerage fees.

You can get brokerage fees with Canada Post, etc.

UPS is by and far the most expensive unless you prepay taxes and brokerage with the overseas supplier. If you self clear and UPS do it for you their charges are horrendous. Fedex only charge a nominal documentation fee.

Parcel received today! No brokerage fees! A small victory!

Ordered about 70 pounds worth of DVDs over christmas, shipping added about 9.70 (negated by the 10 voucher they sent me). All delivered within 2 weeks and no gst charge requested.

Like I said earlier on in the thread, I got hit with it on a package sent by USPS, wish I could remember what the hell it was now but I remember going on the tracking and it was held in Toronto for ages by CBSA.

Clearly it wasn't worth all the effort because I can't remember what it was.

UPS is a courier, USPS comes through Canada Post.